Kerala - Kattappana   

Survey to conserve megalithic monuments begins in Idukki

KATTAPPANA: A 20-member team of archaeologists and students of archaeology has started a survey of the megalithic monuments in Idukki district.

This is being done as part of a project to document the findings for a conservation programme for dolmens, megalithic burial urns and other artefacts.

The project undertaken by the Kerala State Archaeological Department (KSAD) in association with the Department of Sociology, Mahatma Gandhi University, has students of School of Heritage Studies, Thripunithura, School of Social Science, MG University, and Department of Archaeological Studies, Union Christian College, Aluva.

The project that started on February 26 will continue till March 15. The survey of monuments in Devikulam, Marayur, Kanthallur and Chinnar is almost over and the first phase will be completed on March 7, said P. Radhika, the co-ordinator of the project.

She said that the megalithic documents are facing various levels of threat and the project will focus on the special features of megalithic remains in the district.

The surveyors were given one day training by a team led by historian Rajan Gurukkal, C. Kumaran, assistant archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India and Dr. Jenny Peter of U. C. College.

The first survey was conducted at Marayur, where a large number of megalithic dolmens are concentrated. At various individual findings in different parts of the district, it was found that there was a large deposit of megalithic burial urns. The megalithic relics are spread over a large area especially in the high ranges.

It is expected that the survey will prompt further studies which would throw light on the social structure and living style of the early inhabitants.

Individual studies had pointed out that the burial urns have a unique pattern that have some similarity to such findings in Indonesia, a country known for megalithic relics. The earthen burials urns (nannangadies) being unearthed at many places are being destroyed due to ignorance and absence of conservation measures.

The survey is being conducted under the guidance of K. Hemachandran, former director, KSAD.

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Survey to conserve megalithic monuments begins in Idukki

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